The Birds of San Elijo Lagoon

The Birds of San Elijo Lagoon

SELC Presidents’ Council Meeting

November 10, 2009

A Year-Round Home for Some

California Thrasher

Bewick’s Wren

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

--Photos by Scott Streit

A Winter Home for Many

Shorebirds flock to the friendly confines of San Elijo Lagoon during the non-breeding season to take advantage of the mild climate and good foraging conditions.

Western Sandpiper -- Photo by Chris Mayne

A Sanctuary for Endangered Species

Over 90% of the historic range of coastal salt marsh no longer exists in California. This habitat loss has affected many birds, including the Belding’s Savannah Sparrow. This endangered specie is thriving in the pickleweed that abounds in San Elijo Lagoon’s coastal salt marsh.

--Photo by Chris Mayne

Light-footed Clapper Rail --Photo by Scott Streit

California Gnatcatcher --Photo by Thomas Blackman

Snowy Plover –Photo by G. Tepke

Least Tern –Photo by C. Mayne

A Repository of Rare Birds

The Yellow-green Vireo seldom strays north into California from its Central American breeding grounds.

--Photo taken at San Elijo Lagoon on July 23,2009, by Trent Stanley

The Prothonotary Warbler is an eastern species that rarely finds its way to San Diego County. This migrating bird was spotted and photographed in the large cottonwood tree next to the Nature Center parking lot on October 31, 2008.

-Photo by Eric Kallen

Sandhill Crane --Photo by Chris Mayne

A Nursery for Breeding Birds

Black-necked Stilt and Chicks

--Photos by Chris Mayne

American Avocet in Breeding Plumage --Photo by Chris Mayne

American Avocet in Winter

Song Sparrow --Photo by Scott Streit Song Sparrow Nest with Cowbird Eggs

Brown-headed Cowbird (Male)

Bushtit --Photo by Fritz Wihelm

Bushtit Nest

Great Egret --Photo by Mary Claypool

Great Blue Heron on Nest --Photo by Larry Spann

Least Sandpipers

A Shorebird Haven

Willet --Photo by Chris Mayne

Long-billed Curlew --Photo by Scott Streit

Whimbrel --Photo by Chris Mayne

Marbled Godwit --Photo by Chris Mayne

Greater Yellowlegs

Long-billed Dowitchers

Semi-palmated Plover --Photo by Chris Mayne

Ruddy Turnstone --Photo by Neal Solomon

Shorebirds On One Leg

--There’s nothing wrong!

--Way to conserve body heat

--Will occasionally shift legs

--Will often hop on one leg if they need to relocate a short distance

--Lots of different shorebird species do this behavior

Marbled Godwit Willets

A Home for Waders

Great Blue Heron --Photo by Eric Kallen

Snowy Egret --Photos by Chris Mayne

Black-crowned Night Heron –Photo by D. Aguilard

Green Heron –Photo by C. Mayne

Little Blue Heron --Photo by B.J. Stanley

White-faced Ibis --Photo by Eric Kallen

A Salt Water Marsh

Common Moorhen

Sora

American Coot

A Former Duck Hunting Club

A Proud Home of Raptor Nation

Osprey and Crow --Photo by Chris Mayne

A Site for Little Brown Jobs

And Our Urban Guerillas

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy Sponsors An Annual Christmas Bird Count Each December,

But In November…

You’re On Your Own!